Atlas Maritime Takes Delivery of LNG Dual-Fuel Car Carrier Clean Star, Secures $80,000/Day Charter
Key Takeaways
- •Atlas Maritime received delivery of the LNG dual-fuel PCTC Clean Star from Chinese shipyard CIMC Raffles.
- •The vessel secured a two-year time charter at $80,000 per day, which Atlas Maritime described as a record-setting rate and a new market benchmark.
- •Elevated PCTC charter rates reflect strong global automobile trade volumes combined with a period of limited fleet capacity growth.
- •LNG as a marine fuel benefits from established bunkering infrastructure and supports compliance with tightening emissions regulations, though methane slip remains a partial environmental drawback.
- •According to DNV data, the global LNG-fuelled fleet currently totals 929 vessels, with car carriers representing the second-largest segment at 149 ships.
Greek shipping firm Atlas Maritime has taken delivery of its new LNG dual-fuel pure car and truck carrier (PCTC), Clean Star, from Chinese shipyard CIMC Raffles.
Alongside the delivery, the vessel has secured a two-year time charter at a rate of $80,000 per day, the company announced in a LinkedIn post. Atlas Maritime described the charter deal as a milestone for the firm.
"Adding to the excitement, we are proud to announce that CLEAN STAR has secured a two-year time charter at $80,000/day—setting a new market benchmark and breaking company records," Atlas Maritime said in the post.
The record-setting rate reflects the broader strength of the PCTC market, which has seen elevated charter levels in recent years driven by robust global automobile trade volumes and a period of limited fleet capacity growth. Chinese shipyards have been major beneficiaries of a surge in car carrier newbuilding orders as owners move to renew and expand fleets.
LNG is widely regarded as a more mature alternative marine fuel compared to emerging options such as methanol, benefiting from broader availability and established bunkering infrastructure. The fuel option also positions vessel operators to comply with increasingly stringent emissions regulations, including the International Maritime Organization's greenhouse gas reduction strategy and tightening regional rules such as the EU Emissions Trading System, which extended to maritime CO2 emissions in 2024. While LNG produces lower CO2 emissions than conventional fossil fuels, the issue of methane slip—the release of unburned methane, a potent greenhouse gas—remains a challenge that partially undermines its environmental credentials.
In response, some shipowners are turning to bio-LNG, which can be used in existing LNG-fuelled vessels and offers higher net greenhouse gas savings.
According to data from classification society DNV, the global LNG-fuelled fleet currently stands at 929 ships. Container ships comprise the largest segment with 246 vessels, followed by car carriers with 149.